Sports & Enrichment Drive Student Growth at Queen Elizabeth’s School Dubai Sports City

How sports and enrichment are shaping student development at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City

In today’s world, families are looking for schools that develop students beyond academic success. Schools need to place greater importance on supporting students to build confidence, resilience, communication skills and emotional wellbeing through experiences that extend beyond the classroom setting.

At Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, sport and enrichment are viewed as an integral part of students’ development rather than activities separate from academic learning. The school’s teaching methodology focuses on empowering students to develop confidence, resilience, adaptability and a strong sense of belonging both in the classroom and beyond.

The school’s sporting philosophy is built around four key principles: inclusion, excellence, wellbeing and character. While students are encouraged to pursue excellence and challenge themselves, the focus remains on participation, personal growth and creating an environment where every student feels valued and supported.

David Pendleton-Nash, Director of Sport at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, says, “Sport gives students a place to discover what they are capable of. It teaches them how to respond to challenges, how to support those around them, and how to keep improving with confidence and purpose. At Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, our role is to make sure every student feels encouraged to participate, while also creating clear pathways for those who want to pursue sport at a higher level.”

This balance between academics and co-curricular participation is supported through QE Flourish, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City’s enrichment programme designed to encourage students to explore interests and discover talents beyond the classroom. The programme is built around four key pillars — Compete, Care, Challenge and Create, offering opportunities across sports, performing arts, leadership, wellbeing initiatives and creative activities.

Student life is also shaped through QE House – the school’s house system designed to strengthen connection, leadership and collaboration across the school community. QE Flourish and QE House form an important part of the school’s approach to character development and student wellbeing. Students have access to football, cricket, athletics, tennis and padel through professional-level sporting facilities and specialist coaching environments.

To further enhance opportunities for students, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City has partnered with ISD Dubai Sports City and Real Madrid Foundation, offering students access to professional sporting environments, internationally recognised coaching expertise and specialist development pathways. As part of the partnership, the school also hosted an exclusive Family Football Afternoon on 22 May 2026, welcoming founding families onto the pitch alongside coaches from Real Madrid Foundation. The event gave parents and students an opportunity to experience the school’s sporting environment first-hand, while bringing together students, parents and educators through a shared afternoon focused on community, participation and connection.

Daniels Petrovs, CEO of ISD Dubai Sports City, says, “Our partnership creates a genuinely distinctive environment for young people in Dubai. When world-class sporting infrastructure is paired with a school that holds academic and personal development to the highest standard, students benefit in ways that go beyond what either institution could deliver independently. That is the real value of what we are building together, and it is something we believe will have a lasting impact on sport and education in this city.”

Simon McGuinness, General Manager of Real Madrid Foundation EFP Dubai – ISD Dubai Sports City, says, “The partnership with Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City establishes something of real significance for students in the UAE. It brings together elite facilities and a shared commitment to developing young people in the fullest sense, and the result is an environment where sporting ambition is genuinely nurtured. We are proud of what this collaboration makes possible, and confident that its impact will be felt for years to come.”

Earlier this year, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City launched its sports scholarship programme to support high-potential learners in pursuing sporting excellence and achieving their full potential. The QE Elite Sports Programme offers advanced training, performance tracking and opportunities for students to compete at regional and international levels through the school’s sporting pathways.

For Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, these opportunities are designed to support students’ development as confident, able and responsible young people prepared for life beyond school.

Opening in August 2026 for the 2026 – 2027 academic year, Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City will welcome students from Nursery to Year 8 at the first international campus of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, bringing more than 450 years of academic heritage to the UAE.

For further information on Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai Sports City, please visit: www.qedubaisportscity.com